Top Off

 Rob and Karen took Mark and I on a jeep ride up the canyon to Sundance.  It was one of the most beautiful drives I have ever been on! 

 Driving with the top off on the jeep was awesome!!!

 This was taking pictures as we were driving...

 This was one of my favorite spots. All these trees have hundreds of carvings all over them.  Wouldn't this be a cute engagement photo?!?

 Sundance was really pretty.  Streams, bridges, trees, log cabins...gorgeous!

 And that is the "end" of it...he he he!

Some more S'mores Please

 

 Look at the gorgeous mountains in the background.  I have missed mountains!

Lehi Parade

This was such a cute parade! All the primary kids and their floats, different high school bands, football teams, cheerleaders, dance groups, Jr. Miss floats...the kids were in awe!

Over-Staying Our Welcome

 We have been having such a good time at my Aunt Karen's house!!!  The kids have played and played with their cousins, and I have had the best time shopping, trading foot rubs, talking 'till all hours of the night, watching the Bachelorette together,and drinking more Diet Coke than humanly possible...she is the sister I never had!

We took the kids to Trafalga...a kids wonderland...does it get any better?!?!

Can you tell how excited I am?!?

I have been in the car for 3 solid days getting ready to be in the car for 3 solid days...

Utah here we come!

What is this world coming to?

Both on grandparents iphones, and this picture was taken by Mark's iphone....We don't even need to talk to each other anymore!

Last, but Definitely not Least!

 Addison had a PaMpEr Me PrEtTy PaJaMa PaRtY today.  My little girl is turning 5 and going to kindergarten next fall.  I can't believe it!!!!

 Addison is the girliest out of all my girls, so I thought a girlie party would be perfect...and it doesn't get much girlier than mani/pedi's, makeup and up-dos!!

 Here are the before and after pics...CUTENESS!!!

 I love the silly faces in the mirror!

Happy Birthday Princess Girl!!!  We love you!!! 

Jerry-Rigged

 My carpet shampooer stopped working.  So of course, while my dad was here, I begged and pleaded for him to take a look at it.  10 hours, a couple swear words, and a whole bottle of super glue later, we are back in business!  Hurray...or not.

I tried to use it yesterday.  If I leave it in one place for more than 2 seconds, there is a puddle on my floor.  And it doesn't suction very well, which we found a way around.  I decided I take after my dad, I can fix a problem...very ingenuitive if you ask me!

Thanks dad for trying.  I think this one was beyond repair.

Birthday Party # thirty eight thousand two hundred and fourty three

 This cute girl is 8...can you believe it, because I can't!!!

 She invited a few good friends to join her to the best place on earth, no not Disney Land...

 BUILD-A-BEAR!!!

 We each chose our favorite new friend, added a bark, kissed their heart, and stuffed them full of love.

 Whoever came up with this brilliant way to suck all the money out of parents, and make children happier than they have ever been, is a genius!!!

 If you have been around Kasidee for more than 30 seconds, you know that she is a dog lover.  Sunny, her new friend, and her are inseparable.  Seeing her still carry her puppy with her everywhere she goes makes the money disappearing not so bad. :)

We came home and ate lunch,

and so did our new dogs.

Then we had some cupcakes. 

  I tried to use a frosting bag to frost them this time, but I didn't get the frosting thick enough...so we had a bit of a mess on our hands.

 Luckily, I got a few in the fridge fast enough, so it wasn't a complete disaster.

And staying with the drawstring bag theme, I made drawstring bags for their furry friends to ride around in as party favors.  I made them a little too small...but luckily the little 8 year olds didn't notice.  It was a fun day.

Ms. Christy

 This was the first time that I have put any of my kids a preschool, I have always done more of a coop preschool.

 Addison had such a good time with Ms. Christy!  They went on fun field trips, did some very cute crafts, and learned tons along the way.

 Addison was able to be in there with her cousin and some other really cute kids.

 See...cute kids...I told you!

Thanks Ms. Christy and cute kids, for making this a fabulous year for my little girl!

The Festivities are NEVERENDING!

 We decided it would be fun to let Parker and Kasidee have separate birthday parties this year.  We wanted 8 to be a special year!

 Parker took a couple friends to see Kung Fu Panda 2.  I got this great idea from a friend to make these drawstring bags and fill them with candy and snacks for the movie/party favor.  It was the easiest birthday party ever!

Sorry moms, they learned some new moves...watch out little sisters, they are ready to practice!

It is Great to be Eight

 I can't believe that Parker and Kasidee are 8 and baptized!  Of course I was reflecting on their journey, and how hard they had to fight to make it on this earth. 

 I shed a few tears as I thought of their special missions here on this earth that they must need to accomplish.

 And as I peeked over to glance at Mark, I saw that he was shedding a few tears too. 

 We invited some friends over after to help us celebrate the amazing day.

 And you can't celebrate without an ice cream cake and a little ring-around-the-rosie!

 Yes, they all...

 ...fall down!

My dad hasn't been feeling very good on this whole trip.  He has had a bad case of bronchitis, so sad!  He has been a trooper to be dragged here and there, and support his grandchildren on their special day. 

Do you know how hard it is to stick candles in a frozen solid ice cream cake?!?? 

 I was bending the candles trying to push them in...but we succeeded,

 Sang Happy Birthday,

And ended the night visiting with good friends and family.  An end to another good day!